A short video posted on Facebook by Datti Assalafiy has stirred powerful emotions across Nigeria. The clip, titled Rayuwa Kenan meaning “Such is Life” shows two men reminiscing about the good old days when life was peaceful and people coexisted with love and trust. Its caption reads: “We grew up to meet a time of peace and love, but now everything has changed. What do you think caused this?”
The post has since ignited a wave of nostalgia and reflection across social media, drawing hundreds of comments from Nigerians who remember a nation that once lived as one.
In the days before politics, division, and distrust took root, Nigeria’s strength lay in its people’s ability to coexist harmoniously. Communities across the country from Kano to Jos, from Enugu to Lagos lived like extended families. It was common for Christians to celebrate Eid with their Muslim friends, and for Muslims to join Christmas festivities.
Many commenters on Datti’s post recalled how they once played, traded, and shared meals without fear or suspicion. One user, Nana Aysha Babankowa, wrote: “Truly, we came from different tribes, but we lived in peace as one family. Now everyone is caught up in hatred and discrimination. Anyone who lived in Jos knows how people of many tribes lived together in love. May God bring back peace and love like before.”
Another user, Amilat Abdullahi, added with a touch of frustration: “Democracy. Politics is a bad game.”
The responses were filled with both sadness and longing a collective cry for a time when Nigeria felt whole.
The decline of peace and unity in Nigeria did not happen overnight. Many attribute the shift to a mix of political manipulation, social inequality, and growing distrust between communities. Ethnic identity, once a source of pride and culture, became a political weapon.
One commenter, Ummu Zainab, offered a more piercing analysis: “The deception of our tyrant leaders changed our minds and made us dislike each other. They used religion and tribalism to achieve their goals. Nigeria belongs to everyone.”
Her comment reflects a deep truth that the divisions in modern Nigeria are not natural; they are manufactured, often for political gain.
The shift began in the 1980s and deepened through successive governments. What was once a society built on communal trust gradually transformed into one divided by politics, poverty, and prejudice.
The video’s emotional impact reveals how deeply Nigerians miss their lost unity. For many older citizens, it recalls a childhood of freedom and innocence when a stranger could walk into a home and be offered food, when ethnic and religious differences didn’t define relationships.
For younger Nigerians, it’s a glimpse into a world they never experienced but wish they could. The comments were filled with phrases like “I wish I saw those days” and “We must bring this spirit back.”
In an age of insecurity and mistrust, this longing for connection is both emotional and urgent. It shows that despite everything tribal politics, rising violence, and social division Nigerians still crave unity and peace.
Datti Assalafiy’s simple video has become more than just a viral post; it’s a mirror reflecting the emotional state of the country. Amid daily news of conflict, corruption, and economic hardship, people found comfort in remembering a time when Nigeria was defined by community and compassion.
Social media, often a platform for division, briefly became a space of shared reflection. Underneath the post, comments cut across language, tribe, and faith proof that deep down, Nigerians still yearn for one another.
As one commenter simply put it: “Life was peaceful then because we loved without fear. Now everyone is suspicious of everyone.”
Nigeria’s history teaches that peace is not a gift from governments or institutions it’s a product of ordinary people choosing to live with kindness and understanding. The generation that grew up before division remembers that clearly.
To rebuild unity, leaders and citizens alike must revive those lost values of fairness, empathy, and communal responsibility. Schools must teach tolerance as a strength, not a weakness. Religion must be a source of compassion, not conflict.
If Nigeria is ever to reclaim its sense of nationhood, it must start by rediscovering the humanity that once bound its people together.
The power of Rayuwa Kenan lies in its simplicity two men, one conversation, and a question that touched millions of hearts.
It’s more than nostalgia; it’s a call to conscience. Nigerians are not divided by destiny but by design and what was once lost can still be found.
As Nana Aysha Babankowa so beautifully said, “We came from different tribes, we lived in peace as one family.” That memory is not just a story of the past; it’s a reminder of what Nigeria can still become a nation united not by politics, but by love.
